A Review Of Freedom Of Religion Websites

I have posted this brief review of freedom of religion websites as I thought others in the blogosphere may find it useful.

The International Religious Liberty Association  (IRLA) claims to be ‘the oldest association dedicated to freedom of conscience for all people’. The organisation is affiliated to the Seventh Day Adventist Church and based in the United States.  From what I can see the website mostly concentrates on the legal or policy aspects of freedom of religion with little or no news on the persecution of individuals or groups because of their beliefs. This appears borne out by their statement that ‘A primary aspect of the IRLA’s work is to ensure that religious freedom has the highest possible visibility on the world scene.  To that end, we hold congresses, regional conferences, national symposiums, and local meetings—all aimed at making sure issues of religious freedom remain high on society’s agenda.  For despite the importance of international covenants and national legislation, without public support for religious freedom, any gains remain at the level of theory rather than practice’.

Forum 18 is based in Norway and according to their own description ‘is a Christian web and e-mail initiative to provide original reporting and analysis on violations of the freedom of thought, conscience and belief of all people, whatever their religious affiliation, in an objective, truthful and timely manner. It mainly publishes on the former Soviet states, notably Belarus and Central Asia, but also publishes original work on states such as Serbia and Turkey. Forum 18 works for religious freedom for all on the basis of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights’’ Their website seems a very useful source of news for the region they cover.

The International Coalition for Religious Freedom is affiliated to the Unification Church and claims to be ‘a non-profit, non-sectarian, educational organization dedicated to defending the religious freedom of all, regardless of creed, gender or ethnic origin. ICRF acknowledges with gratitude that, at the current time, it receives the bulk of its funding from institutions and individuals related to the Unification Church community’. They appear to concentrate on New Religious Movements. I am not sure if this site is still active as their newsletter has not been updated since 2004.

http://www.uscirf.gov/  is a very comprehensive U.S Government website with a wealth of news and information on Freedom of Religion throughout the world.  According to the website ‘The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and the Congress’

The International Association For Religious Freedom  (IARF) appears to concentrate on interfaith activity and promoting awareness of issues of religious freedom through conferences and reports The organisation describes itself as’ a UK-based charity working for freedom of religion & belief at a global level. We have a century-plus history of encouraging interfaith dialogue & tolerance, with member groups in 25 countries, from faith traditions including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Shinto & Zoroastrianism’. Somewhat like IRLA there is very little reportage of the persecution of individuals and groups for their beliefs.

Iranian Authorities Ban Newspaper For Baha’i Temple Picture

Iranian authorities have banned the country’s largest-circulation newspaper for publishing a photo of a Baha’i temple, state media reported Monday. Iran’s Shiite cleric-led regime views the Baha’i religion as heretical and has banned it since the 1979 revolution. The photo also gave Iran’s leaders an opportunity to silence the Hamshahri daily…Hamshahri was ordered closed by the Press Supervisory Board, a government agency run by hard-liners, for printing an advertisement containing a photo of a Baha’i temple that encourages tourists to visit the shrine, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Source: Associated Press

Show Trial Of Baha’is Rescheduled Yet Again

In what has become a cruel farce the show trial of seven innocent Baha’is has been rescheduled yet again to Sunday 18th October.

“It is unclear whether the trial will take place on Sunday, or whether it will be postponed again,” said Diane Ala’i, the Baha’i International Community representative to the United Nations in Geneva. “If the trial does not go ahead, the seven Baha’is should be released on bail, as Iranian law requires,” she said. “They are completely innocent of the accusations against them and should not have been imprisoned in the first place.”

 Source: http://news.bahai.org/story/733

Family Of Imprisoned Baha’i Harrassed

I am saddened to learn that the family of imprisoned Baha’i Sahba Rezvani is being harassed by vandals.

The automobile of a Baha’i resident of Semnan was vandalized multiple times by unknown assailants. According to the Baha’i Committee of Human Rights Activists in Iran, in a continuation of persecutions and harassment of our Baha’i countrymen, particularly those residing in Semnan, at 10 PM on August 27, an individual or a group of assailants riding on a motorcycle broke the windows of Nezam Fanaian’s car and then dispersed. During recent months, several times Mr. Fanaian’s vehicle has been attacked by unknown persons. Despite repeated appeals to the security and police agencies in Semnan by his family and other Baha’is about the consistent attacks and harassment of the Baha’is of that region, no action has been taken to prevent these episodes. It should be noted that Mr. Fanaian’s wife is Sahba Rezvani, who has been imprisoned since last December, and is presently completing her 3-year jail term in Tehran’s Evin Prison.

Source http://www.iranpresswatch.org/post/5209